August Genealogy Meetings and Classes

August StLGS Monthly Meeting

Saturday, 10 August 2019

"Finding the Civilian Conservation Corps," by Nancy Schuster, St. Louis County Library Headquarters Auditorium, 10:00 a.m.; free, open to all, no pre-registration needed

More information on the StLGS website.

Jewish Special Interest Group (SIG) Meeting 
Wednesday, 28 August 2019

"Interpreting and Caring for Jewish Tombstones," by Diane Everman, Ilene Murray, and Rabbi Jeffrey Stiffman; St. Louis County Library Headquarters East Room, 7:00 p.m. Free, open to all, no pre-registration needed.

 More information on the Jewish SIG page on the StLGS website.

Other Upcoming Classes/Meetings

StLGS Class: Saturday, 17 August 2019

"Foundations of Genealogy, Part I," by Ilene Murray; StLGS Office, 1:00 p.m. Free to StLGS members; fee for non-members; pre-registration required at 314-647-8547.

StLGS Class: Sunday, 18 August 2019

"Using FamilySearch," by Bob Goode; StLGS Office, 1:00 p.m. Free to StLGS members; fee for non-members; pre-registration required at 314-647-8547.

StLGS Class: Saturday, 24 August 2019

"Foundations of Genealogy, Part II," by Ilene Murray; StLGS Office, 1:00 p.m. Free to StLGS members; fee for non-members; pre-registration required at 314-647-8547.

View the entire summer/fall 2019 genealogy class schedule here.

St. Louis County Library Classes
Numerous classes at all branches in August. More on the library website.  

Click on the August calendar and scroll down the page.

Carondelet Historical Society Meeting
Sunday, 11 August 2019

Discussion of early French settlements by Dr. Terry Norris, 6303 Michigan Avenue, St. Louis, 1:30 p.m.; free, open to all, no pre-registration needed.

More information on the group's website.

Czech Genealogical Researchers Monthly Meeting
Saturday, 10 August 2019

"Serfdom in Bohemia," by Marcella Milcic, St. Louis County Library Headquarters East Room, 3:00 p.m.; free, open to all, no pre-registration needed.

More information on the group's website.

An Overlooked Resource: St. Louis Branch of the Missouri State Archives

Did you know there was a branch of the Missouri State Archives in St. Louis? If you did know about it, do you know where it is located or what projects they are currently working on? We will fill you in on all of that information in this week's blog post.

First, the St. Louis branch of the Missouri State Archives is downtown in the Carnahan Courthouse, just a block east of City Hall, at 1114 Market Street, Room 245. Because this is a working government building, you do have to go through a security check to enter, but once you are in the lobby, visitors are welcome to visit the archives from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. You are encouraged to call ahead, though, to be sure staff is available to assist you. (Their phone number is included here at the end.) Parking is available in several lots nearby and the MetroLink station near the Enterprise Center is an easy walk in good weather.

What will you find at the MSA-St. Louis? Archivist Mike Everman and his capable staff are working diligently on St. Louis City Circuit Court records. The case files include all kinds of early court cases: petitions/complaints, summons, depositions, subpoenas, judgments, maps, and drawings. Record books have a daily accounting of actions that occurred for each case. There are indexes for plaintiff versus defendant and an inverted index of defendants against plaintiffs.

The job of the MSA-St. Louis staff is to conserve every record, to open, straighten, clean, and digitize more than four million pages of original documents! Work began in 1999 and the St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project was designated an official project of the Save America's Treasures initiative a year later. Along with the state archives, the staff is also partnering with several universities in St. Louis and the National Park Service.
 
Archivists and interns have already processed and indexed Circuit Court records from 1804 through 1835 and from 1861 through 1868. They are currently indexing 1835 through 1840. Their goal is to "preserve and make available case files, indexes, and record books of the St. Louis Circuit Court, 1804–1875." Later records for the city are in the Civil Courts Building. (Remember that in 1876, St. Louis City and County split, so some later records will be in the county.)

Mike and his co-workers at the MSA-St. Louis are happy to help you locate individuals in the indexes and then look at the actual court cases. He says that "processed and unprocessed case files and record books" are available in the archives office. Although some of the records are currently online, much is not there yet. You can contact the MSA-St. Louis staff, if you have a particular request, and they will be happy to work with you to find what you need. They request that you be specific when you email. Include names and dates, the nature of the case you are pursuing, and, if possible, the location in the city where your people were living.

The Missouri State Archives has much more information on their website that can help you.

1. Missouri State Archives-St. Louis
2. St. Louis Circuit Court Project
3. Civil War Records from the St. Louis Circuit Court

If you had Civil War ancestors in St. Louis, you might also want to check out the St. Louis Freedom Suits project, a joint effort between Washington University Libraries and the Missouri History Museum based on work done by the Missouri State Archives. You can read more here.

St. Louis Circuit Court Records, Prior to 1875
Address above
Phone: 314-588-17476
Email: archrefstl@sos.mo.gov

(To the right is the MSA-St. Louis office and Mike Everman, the archivist. It's a small office, but, as you can see, filled with treasures!
Photos by Ilene Murray)


St. Louis Circuit Court Records, Post 1875
St. Louis City Circuit Court
10 North Tucker Street (63101)
Phone: 314-641-8309
Email Kathy Grillo, Records Manager: kathy.grillo@courts.mo.gov 

Classes for Experienced Researchers

Are you interested in an in-depth genealogy learning experience? Ready to improve your genealogical skills and knowledge? One of the exciting things about doing genealogy research is the opportunity to keep learning. Starting with local classes, workshops, and seminars, we get the chance to become more knowledgeable about basic techniques and skills. And once we feel comfortable, it's time to branch out to conferences and institutes.

Two major upcoming events, now open for registration, can help you do just that.

Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) Annual Conference

Washington, D.C., 21–24 August 2019

This annual conference features four full days of lectures, a large exhibit hall of vendors, a society showcase, and a chance to visit the National Archives, Library of Congress, the DAR Library, and other attractions in the nation's capital. Lectures are offered on a wide variety of topics and skill levels. You can view the program, register for the conference, and/or register for a local hotel at the conference website.

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy

Salt Lake City, Utah: 12–17 January 2020

Celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary, this venerable institution, sponsored by the Utah Genealogy Association, always sells out quickly. Meant for researchers who relish the chance to spend a week immersed in genealogy instruction by the country's top instructors, the institute is a way to learn from national experts in the "capital of genealogy."

This year's classes are as follows:

• Corpus Juris: Advanced Legal Concepts for Genealogy, Judy Russell, CG, CGL
• Advanced Research Tools: Land Records, Richard Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA, and Pamela Sayre, CG, FUGA
• Guide to Treasures Found in Federal Records, Michael Strauss, AG
• Virginia from the Colonial Period to the Civil War, Barbara Vines Little, CG, FVGS, FNFS, FUGA
• Chinese Genealogy Research, Kelly Summers, AG
• Applying Standards to Appraise Genealogical Work, Jeanne Bloom, CG
• Meeting Standards: Using DNA Evidence, Karen Stanbary, CG
• Technical Writing for Genealogists, Melissa Johnson, CG
• Advanced Genealogical Methods, Paul Graham, AG, CG, CGL
• Immigrants to the New World, Colonial to 1900, Dr. John Colletta, FUGA
• Early U.S. Church Records, Rev. Dr. David McDonald, CG
• Maryland: Researching in the Old Line State, Debra Hoffman
• Advanced Hispanic Research, George Ryskamp, AG, FUGA, and Debbie Gurtler, AG
• Researching Like a Professional, Michael Hait, CG, CGL
• Introduction to Genetic Genealogy, Paul Woodbury
• Guided Research and Consultation, Craig Scott, CG, FUGA

The following week features an Academy for Professionals, from 20–24 January, with seven classes offered to those who are working for clients.

Registration for all the classes opened on Saturday, 13 July. If you are interested, you will want to read more about the classes, instructors, and schedule on the SLIG website. Register quickly, however, as there are already wait lists for some of the classes!

Postnomials: Those initials after the instructors' names indicate their various certifications.

• AG—Accredited Genealogist, received from the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen)
• CG—Certified Genealogist, received through the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG)
• CGL—Certified Genealogical Lecturer, received through the BCG
• FNGS—Fellow of the National Genealogical Society
• FVGS—Fellow of the Virginia Genealogical Society
• FUGA—Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Society

 

Finally, if you'd rather stay close to home, check your local society or library for classes. And if home is St. Louis, remember that registration for StLGS summer/fall classes is also now open!

John Philip Colletta Headlines "Your Family Stories: What DID They Say?"

(Thanks to Laura Mackinson, StLGS Quarterly co-editor and chair of the Social Media Committee, for being our guest writer this week.)

St. Louis Genealogical Society (StLGS) is honored to host John Philip Colletta, Ph.D., for the 2019 Summer Speaker Series. A Washington, D.C.-based genealogist, Colletta lectures nationally and is on the faculty of both the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) at Athens, Georgia, and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG). He has authored two manuals, many genealogy articles, and a "murder-mystery-family-history" book, titled Only a Few Bones: A True Account of the Rolling Fork Tragedy and its Aftermath, about his great-great-grandfather. It is his ability to turn family history into focused written narrative that he will emphasize during his series of lectures for StLGS.

"Your Family Stories: What DID They Say?" is the theme for this exciting day-long event. Colletta says, "Detective work is challenging and fun. But creating a family tree is only half the goal. The other half is learning about your ancestors as men and women with personalities, character traits, motives and aspirations, joys and disappointments, just like you." His point gets to the heart of writing your family's story: seeing your ancestors in sharp focus and committing their true stories to paper. His four lectures will be:

• Breaking through Brick Walls: Use Your HEAD!—Pick up guidelines and methodology for overcoming research obstacles.
• Turning Biographical Facts into Real Life Events: How to Build Historical Context—Depict your ancestors as distinct individuals in and of their time period.
• Principles of Good Writing and Storytelling—Learn to craft an engaging true story.
• Writing a Narrative Family History: The Snares and Pitfalls—Avoid hazards that can cloud your narrative.

The Summer Speaker Series will be held Saturday, 13 July, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Maryland Heights Community Center, 2300 McKelvey Road, Maryland Heights, Missouri 63043.. Registration booklet and more details on our website.

 

Want more? Attend the Writing Institute the following week! Details here.

Fall Classes Announced; July Genealogy Meetings and Events

Fall Classes Now Open for Registration

Check out the StLGS website for the complete list of fall classes that begin in August and run through October. Once again, StLGS offers a two-part class called "Foundations of Genealogy" for those just beginning or needing some refresher hints. Are you interested in learning how to use the FamilySearch website, or are you going on our Salt Lake City Research trip? We have a class that will give you great information on the catalog, wiki, and other parts of the site, and can help you prepare for the trip. Classes on German and Irish research, using technology in your research, and the Legacy FamilyTree PC software are also available. For a complete schedule and/or to download a PDF, go to the StLGS website. (Sorry, but there is no online registration for classes. Please either mail in the registration form or call the office.)

Upcoming StLGS Meeting

 No meeting in July. We look forward to seeing you at our special events:
Summer Speaker Series and/or the Writing Institute
You can still register for both by clicking the buttons on the StLGS website's home page.

There are also just a few rooms left for the annual Salt Lake City Research Trip.
More information and online registration on the StLGS website.

August StLGS Monthly Meeting
Saturday, 10 August 2019

"Finding the Civilian Conservation Corps," by Nancy Schuster, St. Louis County Library Headquarters Auditorium, 10:00 a.m.; free, open to all, no pre-registration needed.

    
Upcoming Irish Special Interest Group (SIG) Meeting

  Tuesday, 23 July 2019

"Using Social Media for Irish Research," by Laura Mackinson and Ilene Murray; St. Louis County Library Headquarters Auditorium, 7:00 p.m. Free, open to all, no pre-registration needed.

 More information on the Irish SIG page on the StLGS website.

Other Upcoming Meetings/Events

Czech Genealogical Researchers Monthly Meeting
Saturday, 20 July 2019

"Escape to Freedom," by Mary Ann Sulz, St. Louis County Library Headquarters East Room, 2:30 p.m.; free, open to all, no pre-registration needed.

More information on the group's website.

St. Louis County Library Classes
Tuesday, 16 July; 2:00 p.m., Daniel Boone Branch
Wednesday, 17 July; 6:30 p.m.; Cliff Cave Branch
Thursday 25 July 2019; 2:00 p.m.; Headquarters

"Finding Ancestors in U.S. Census Records," class given in three locations; free, but pre-registration is needed and there are limited spaces.

Information/registration for the 16 July class; information/registration for the 17 July class; and information/registration on the 25 July class on the library's website.

Tuesday, 23 July 2019; 10:00 a.m.; Weber Road Branch
Monday, 29 July; 2:00 p.m.; Headquarters

"Finding Immigrant European Ancestors," class given in two locations; free, but pre-registration is needed and there are limited spaces.

Information/registration for the 23 July class and
Information/registration for the 29 July class on the library's website.

Sappington-Concord Historical Society Monthly Meeting
Thursday, 18 July 2019

"A 150-year Journey Toward Hope: St. Louis State Hospital," by Amanda Hunyar, Friendship Village South, 12503 Village Circle Drive, Sunset Hills, 2:30 p.m.; free, open to all, no pre-registration needed.

More information on the group's website.

StLGS Celebrates Its Volunteers; Plus, Early Registration Expires Soon!

Without its many volunteers, St. Louis Genealogical Society would not be able to accomplish any of its goals. We are the largest local genealogical society in the United States and there is not a single paid staff member! Although "thank you" is heard all the time around our office, once a year the society says a special thank you to those who have given outstanding service during the previous year. Award winners must be members of the society, not a recipient in the last two years, and not currently on the board of directors. Usually the award winners are recognized at the annual Family History Conference, but we did not have one this year because of the NGS conference in May. Instead, StLGS volunteer coordinator, Marilyn Brennan, organized a thank you luncheon on Thursday, 20 June, at the StLGS office.

Those who regularly work at the office or at home on special projects were invited to a delicious lunch of salads, sandwiches, fruit, and cake. Afterwards, StLGS president, Kay Weber, honored the men and women chosen for this year's awards.

 This year's honorees were as follows:

• Appreciation: Ray Barbeau, Steve Butler, Mary Cornell, Joe Gildehaus, Ann Hodges, Mark Madras, and Buddy Van Arsdale 
• Achievement: Jean Marie Meyer, April Webb, Ken Webb
• Special Achievement: Ted Steele
• Special Awards: Bob Goode and Joyce Mercer

Ted Steele received the Special Achievement Award for the projects he has spearheaded to organize the society's archives and to sort out and update all the cemetery information on the StLGS website. Ted's efforts have led to dozens of web pages being corrected and modified, which will be uploaded to the site very soon.

Bob Goode and Joyce Mercer received their Special Awards for the time and effort each puts into their jobs at the office. Bob tirelessly works to keep the StLGS website running and current. He helps to maintain the office computer network and is a teacher and lecturer for the society. Joyce answers the phone, handles the front desk, helps with event registrations and sales, and generously shares her knowledge of rural cemeteries.

Congratulations to all our 2019 award winners! (For more photos, check out the StLGS Facebook group.)

🔆

Reminder: Just one week left to get the early registration discount rates for three major genealogy events! All prices go up on 1 July!

1. Saturday, 13 July: Summer Speaker Series featuring Dr. John Colletta, including four lectures plus lunch. Registration booklet and more details on our website.
2. Monday through Thursday, 15–18 July: Summer Writing Institute; four days of intensive workshops, including morning snacks and lunch each day. Learn more about the Institute and how to register on our website. If you register early for both of the above events, you save $15.
3. Sunday through Sunday, 27 October–3 November: Salt Lake City Research Trip. Just a few rooms remain for our annual trip to the world's largest genealogy library. Save $100 and take part in all pre-trip preparations if you register by 30 June. More information and a four-page registration flyer are on the StLGS website.
   

Safety First: Protect Yourself Online

Along with those dozens of annoying robocalls, it seems to be open season for online scamming. If you have good filters on your email, you may never see most of the deluge of emails that are meant to be stealing your money and/or your identity because they will be sent directly to your spam or junk mail folders. However, even with the best attempts at filtering, inevitably, some of those messages get through and you may be tempted to open an attachment, click on a link, or, worse still, actually send someone a gift card or credit card number.

This attempt to steal from you online is called phishing. Pronounced "fishing," it is meant for you to take the bait so a criminal can reel you in! Just in the past few weeks, your blogger has received an email from a known contact asking for a gift card for her nephew, two emails purportedly from Apple asking to click on a link to reenter account information, and masses of emails from "Google" saying files were corrupt, photos unavailable, and mail was going to be deleted, none of which was true.

How can you protect yourself, especially if you aren't really tech savvy?

• First, be smart! Don't fall for emails asking for anything of value, even if you know the person asking. Call or text the person in question and verify whether he or she actually sent you the email before taking any action. 
• Learn to look at who really sent an email before you respond to it. Most emails have a "Reply-To" line with the name of the sender. If you click on the sender's name, you will see the actual email address from which the note came. Many fake emails don't have the Reply-To visible, but there is still a way to see who sent the email. In the example to the right, clicking on the "Google Notify" line yielded the hidden address, which you can see is clearly NOT from Google.
• Don't ever click on a link in a message that seems to be from a company but has grammatical or spelling mistakes. It is very rare that a message from a major company is sent out with those kinds of errors. If you aren't sure about something, go to the website yourself by typing in the address, or call the company.
• Make sure your passwords are safe. Don't use simple words like "password" or "onetwothree." Your passwords should have combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols and be unique for each website. Plan on changing passwords if and when you think they might have been compromised.
• Most important, be proactive. Stay alert and aware so you don't become a victim of scamming! You can also report phishing attempts to the company who supposedly sent them to you. Most have dedicated abuse email addresses to which you can forward suspicious emails. Don't, however, expect a response, as they seldom do answer, but that doesn't mean they aren't taking action.